Brassiere



June 21, 1932. G. E RUTLEDGE BRASSIERE Filed Sept. 21, 1931 fm/erz/l oz GEOEGE 5. EUR EDGE ,4 m

Patente c.llnne 23 1932 UNITED GEORGE E. RUTLEDGE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO VASSAR SWISS UNDER- WEAR CQMPANY, 01F CHCAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS BRASSIERE Application filed September 21, 1931.

This invention relates to brassieres and more particularly to brassieres formed of relatively elastic knit material which are adapted to support the busts gently and without undue constriction or compression.

A. general object of the invention is the provision of such brassiere which will be attractive in appearance, will present smooth lines so as not to show beneath the outer garment covering and which will fit snugly but which will not bind or irritate the wearer in any way.

The various objects -of the invention Wlll become more readily apparent upon a detailed study of the accompanying specification and drawing in conjunction with the appended claims.

- In the drawing, which is illustrative,'Fig.. l is a detached rear view of a brassiere made in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the brassiere on a wearer;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view showing an enlargement of a portion of the lower, integral, relatively elastic band and adjacent back covering.

In the drawing, numeral 2 designates generally a brassiere having a front bust covering portion 4 whose ends are adapted to extend around to the sides of the wearer. The upper edge of portion 4 is cut away somewhat at the center, as shown, to follow the contour of the busts and has secured thereto a relatively inelastic binding edge 6. The bust covering portion 4 is formed of any desirable textile fibre yarn such as wool, rayon, silk or cotton, which is relatively loosely knit and is thereby adapted to stretch so as to accommodate the busts comfortably. Between the busts there is preferably secured an elastic loop 8 which helps to shape the brassiere and define the bust pockets.

At the rear of the brassiere and adapted to extend transversely across the back of the wearer is a strip 10 of knit textile fibre arn whose ends are sewed to the ends of the ront bust covering portion 4. An elastic binding edge 12 is sewed along the upper edge of strip 10 and has its ends secured to the. ends Serial No. 564,090.

ends to form a closed, relatively elastic band i at the lower edge of the brassiere. They are preferably identical in structure and are knitted from a composite rubber yarn c0mprising an elastic rubber core or center which is provided with a covering of textile fibre yarn. Preferably the composite rubber yarn comprises an elastic rubber core having a first covering of textile fibre yarn helically wound in one direction and a second superposed covering of tegrtile fibre yarn helically wound in opposed direction.

In the manufacture of the front portion of the brassiere, the band portion 18 is first knitted from the composite rubber yarn, suficient courses being run to make the band portion of desired width. The composite rubber yarn is then thrown out and the textile fibre yarn used for making the bust covering portion 4 is thrown in, the knitting operation being continued until portion 4 is completely formed. The first course of textile yarn will of course engage the loops of composite yarn formed at the upper edge of band portion 18. If desired the operation may of course be reversed and the bust covering portion 4 formed first. The composite piece of material may all be formed on one machine or, if desired, one portion may be formed on one machine and then transferred to another machine for formation of the other portion but in any event the stitches of the portions are interknit.

The rear part of the brassiere comprising the strip 10 and the band portion 20 is formed in the same way and its ends are then sewed to the ends of the front part.

It will be seen that a brassiere made in accordance with this invention is endless and will fit snugly and comfortably, givin the busts the correct uplift iorm.- The ower closed band formed by band portions 18 and 20 provides the necessary tension across the bottom of the busts but presents a perfectly smooth contact to the wearer inasmuch as it is formed integrally with the main brassiere portions. The provision of this integrally formed band eliminates the necessity for hems or gathering and thus results in greater comfort and better appearance. Due to the great elasticity of this lower, integrally formed elastic band, no buttons, clasps or other fastening means are required.

While the band portions 18 and 20 have beendescribedasmadefromknittedlcomposite elastic rubber yarn, it is often desirable to incorporate with such yarn a platin yarn in 20 order to produce various color efi ects. If desired the plating yarn may be arranged to hide the composite rubber yarn completely or form designs therewith. The plating yarn may be of any desired textile fibre. The in 5 corporation of the plating yarn with the composite rubber body yarn may result in a tendency to reduce somewhat the elasticity of the band being formed in the direction of the wales but this may be overcome in the knitao ting operation by the use of suitable friction or tensioning means applied to the rubber body yarn to cause the stitches made of this yarn to be drawn more tightly than the stitches made ofthe plating yarn. Thus, the plating yarn stitches are relatively looser than the body yarn stitches so that the elasticity of the band in the direction of the wales is not impaired by the incorporation of a relatively inelastic plating yarn.

I claim as my invention: 1. A brassiere having a bust covering portion formed of loosely knitted textile fibre yarn, a back encircling portion formed oi knitted textile fibre yarn, the ends of said 45 back encircling portion being sewed to the portion, and an endless lower bust supportin band portlon encircling the body and forme of knitted composite rubber. yarn, the bust and back portions being formed integrally zvith ad acent bust supporting band porions.

3. A brassiere having a bust covering portion formed of knitted textile fibre yarn, a knitted back portion, and an endless lower bust supporting band portion encircling the body and formed of knitted composite rubber yarn, said bust and back portions being formed integrally with adjacent bust supporting band portions.

4. A brassiere having a bust covering portion formed of knitted textile fibre yarn, a knitted back portion forming with said bust covering portlon' a closed band encircling the wearers bod and an endless lower bust supporting ban portion encircling the body and formed of knitted composite rubber yarn, said bust and back portions being formed integrally with adjacent bust supporting band portions.

5. A brassiere having a bust covering portion formed of knitted textile fibre yarn, an endless lower bust supporting band ortion encircling the body and formed of itted composite rubber yarn, said bust portion being formed integrally with adjacent parts of said band portion, and a back portion secured to the rear of said band portion and to said bust portion to tension the latter.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of September, 1931.

GEORGE E. RUTLEDGE.

ends of said bust covering portion to form a closed band of knitted textile fibre yarn, a first band portion formed of knitted composite rubber yarn disposed at the lower edge of said bust covering portion, a second band portion formed of lmitted composite rubber yarn disposed at the lower edge of said back encircling portion, said band portions bein sewed together at their ends to form a close band of knitted composite rubber yarn along the lower edges of said bust covering portion and said back encircling portion, said band portions being integrally knitted to said bust coverin and back encircling portions.

2. A rassiere comprisin a bust covering portion of knitted textile bre am, a one-' piece back portion also of knitte textile fibre yarn and permanently joined with the ends of the bust covering portion to form there with an endless bust and back encircling band 

